Fulcrum-shifting device for glass-ladles.



H. MILLER.

FULCRUM SHIFTING DEVICE FOR GLASS LADLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.12, l9l6.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

INVENTCJR To all whom it may concern HENRY MILLER, OF WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FULCRUIlE-SHIFTING DEVICE FOR GLASS-LADIES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Application filed April 12, mg. Serial No. 90,603.

Be it known that I, HENRY MILLER, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Washington, county of Washington, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Fulcrum-Shifting 'Devices for Glass-Ladles, of which the following is a.

specification.

This invention relates broadly to ladles for molten glass, and more specifically to a fulcrum-shifting attachment for such ladles. The primary object of the invention is to provide a ladle having flexible suspension means and which is equipped with means whereby the fulcrum upon which its weight rests may be readily shifted for facilitating the handling thereof.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to support the ladle by a pendent chain or cable which is attached to the ladle handle at a fixed point. This oint of support, or fulcrum point, must fie located at a considerable distance rearward of the bowl in order that the supporting cable will not interfere with the introduction of the ladle the required distance for dipping glass from the most remote part of the tank or furnace; and, due to such location, great force must be applied to the outer end of the long hau dle forelevating the filled ladle and withdrawing the same from the tank. Additionally, much strength must be exerted by the operator to control the heavy ladle during its transfer from the tank to the drawing pot, and also for turning said ladle for dumping its contents.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide means whereby the operator is relieved of much of the heavy labor above mentioned incident to the transfer of the ladle from the melting tank to the drawing pot, the fulcrum point being automatically advanced when the ladle is withdrawn from the tank, enabling the operator to effect the transfer with the application of relatively small hand power and to readily control the dumping of the contents of the ladle.

In describing the invention, reference is herein had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention, and-Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2, Fi 1.

fieferring to said drawings, 1 indicates the bowl and 2 the handle of an ordinary glass 'g ladle. Loosely mounted on said handlefiare the terminals 3 and 3 of an upstanding one-piece metal yoke which consists of a body 4 and opposite end members 5 and 5 which terminate respectively in the handle-embracing terminals 3 and 3. Said body 4 is preferably inclined at a slight angle to the handle, as shown in Fig. 1, but obviously may be in direct parallel alinement with said handle. Disposed in supporting relation to the body 4 of the yoke is a grooved wheel or trolley 6 which is,journaledin a stirrup 7 disposed in straddling relation tosaidbody. Said stirrup is con nected by a removable bolt 8 to a clevis 9 to which is attached the lower end of a sussaid handle. As is obvious, the yoke may be adjusted to any desired position with respect to the bowl, whereupon the collars arev seated firmly against the yoke terminals, as shown in Fig. 1. In practice, the yoke is adjusted to such position with respect to the bowl that when the hanger, constituted by the trolley wheel 6 and its associated parts, occupies a position adjacent to the rearmost member 5, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the ladle may, without hindrance, be introduced through the usual opening in the wall of the tank or furnace for dipping glass from the most remote points of the latter. Further, the yoke is of such length that when the hanger is shifted to a position wherein it lies against the foremost member 5, as shown in dotted lines in said figure, relatively small force applied to the outer end of said handle will suffice to maintain a balance between the two' ends.

The suspended trolley constitutes a fulcrum upon which the weight of the ladle is supported. When the bowl has been filled, it is elevated by hand to a substantially horizontal position with the said fulcrum occupying its rearmost position. Due to the relatively long distance between. the weight and the fulcrum, the application of considerable power to the end of the handle is required to effect the elevation; but when the bowl has been elevated to, or sllghtly above the horizontal position, the trolley wheel automatically travels forward to the limit permitted by the length of the yoke, thus shift-.

ing the fulcrum to a point closer to the weight, whereupon the power requisite to maintain the substantially horizontal position is materially diminished, thus enabling the operator to readily control the ladle while transferring it to the drawing pot. The handle being rotatable in the yoke terminals 3 and 3, the dumping of the contents of the ladle is accomplished with comparativeease.

For facilitating the -maintenance of the trolley in its advanced position, the member 5 is arcuately curved or bowed forward to form a pocket 11 within which said trolley is received. By holding the bowl elevated slightly above the horizontal, the trolley will obviously be caused to remain seated in said pocket. A counterweight, as 12, may be appropriately mounted upon the outer end of the handle, such weight being designed to partially balance the weight of the bowl.

What is claimed is l. A fulcrum shifting device for glass ladles, consisting of a stirrup flexibly sus-' pended, a trolley journaled in the stirrup, and a yoke for mounting upon a ladle han dle, said yoke embodying a longitudinally disposed body portion inclinedly related to the ladle handle and having the trolley disposed in supporting relation thereto.

2. In a fulcrum shifting device for glass ladles, a yoke having its opposite terminals mounted on the ladle handle and of uneven lengths whereby the body portion of the yoke is disposed at an inclination to said handle, and a trolley disposed in underlying supporting relation to said body.

3. The combination with a glass ladle and a suspended supporting cable therefor, of shiftable means interposed between said ladle and said cable .whereby the fulcrum point is advanced and retracted with respect to the bowl of the ladle, said means comprising a yoke adjustably fixed on the handle of the ladle and having a body disposed substantially in parallel alinement with said handle, and a trolley suspended by said cable, said trolley being disposed in underlying supporting relation to said body and being adapted to travel forward or back with respect to the latter according as the bowl occupies a position above or below its horizontal position.

4; The combination with a glass ladle and a suspended supporting cable therefor, of shiftable means interposed between said ladle and said cable whereby the fulcrum pointis advanced and retracted with re spect to the bowl of the ladle, said means comprising a substantially U-shaped element having the ends of its lateral members loosely mounted upon the handle of the ladle, said element being disposed in upright position and having its body portion substantially parallel to said handle, and a trolley suspended by said cable disposed in freely movable supporting relation to said body, that lateral member closest to the ladle bowl being curved forwardly to form an internal pocket adapted for receiving said trolley.

. 5. The combination with a glassladle and a suspended supporting cable therefor, of shiftable means interposed between said ladle and said cable whereby the fulcrum point is advanced and retracted withrespect to the bowl of the ladle, said means -comprising a substantially U-shaped element formed with lateral members of uneven longths and having'th'e ends of its lateral members mounted upon the handle of the ladle, said element being disposed in upright position and having its body portion extending lengthwise of said handle, a trolley located in underlying traveling relation to said body, a stirrup in which said trolley is mounted, and means connecting said stirrup to said cable.

6. The combination with a glass ladle, of a yoke having its opposite terminals loosely mounted on the handle of said ladle for longitudinal and pivotal movements relative thereto and having its body disposed substantially parallel to said handle, a trolley disposed in underlying supporting relation to said body and adapted to travel forward or back on the latter according as the bowl occupies an elevated or lowered position, said handle being rotatable in said terminals, and collars adjustably fixed on said handle in abutting relation with the yoke terminals .for maintaining said yoke against longitudinal movement on said handle.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY MILLER.

Witnesses:

MINNIE B. FLEMING, TI'IOS. STENHOUSE. 

